Dual Citizenship?

[andi598d 0]

I'm currently considering my options for dual citizenship. I am currently a German citizen living in the USA as LPR, and will be eligible for naturalization this fall. Has anyone here gone through this? What documentation do I need to provide the German government to establish eligibility for dual citizenship? Is there a problem from the USA side?

I am aware of the text of the oath of citizenship. I am also aware Germany states, publicly, on the embassy's web site, that the government will ignore the part about abrogating a foreign citizenship if they've given advance permission. To me, this seems like a legal minefield...

[YuAndDan 153]

Sounds complicated, though many from the UK do the same.

III. American-German Dual Nationality

1. Both the United States and Germany recognize the concept of multiple nationality.

2. A child born to an American parent and a German parent acquires both American and German citizenship at birth, regardless of place of birth, if the parents satisfy the jus soli or jus sanguinis requirements of their respective countries. See the sections above entitled, "Basic Primer on American Citizenship Law," and "Basic Primer on German Citizenship Law." Neither country requires a person born under these circumstances to choose between American and German citizenship, i.e., he/she may keep both citizenships his/her entire life.

3. A child born in Germany to two American parents may also become a dual national at birth under the circumstances described in paragraph 4 in the section above entitled, "Basic Primer on German Citizenship Law." Under German law, he/she would have to choose between American and German citizenship before turning 23.

4. Under German law, a person may not have more than one citizenship unless he/she was born with both, as described in paragraphs 2 and 3 above. Thus, German law requires an American who becomes a German citizen through the Einbürgerung process (see paragraph 5 in the section entitled, "Basic Primer on German Citizenship Law") to formally renounce his/her American citizenship, and a German who becomes an American citizen (see paragraph 5 in the section entitled, "Basic Primer on American Citizenship Law") to give up his/her German citizenship.

5. While Germany recognizes the concept of dual nationality, for most purposes it considers a dual national in Germany a German citizen only. Thus, the ability of the U.S. Embassy and consulates to provide assistance to an American-German dual national in Germany may be limited. The reverse is true in the U.S., where such a person is considered only American for most purposes, and where the German Embassy or consulates may be able to offer only limited assistance. For more information, please contact the Embassy or your nearest consulate.

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/servi...ationality.html

[homesick_american 1]

Sounds complicated, though many from the UK do the same.

Eh...they'd be wasting their time, because:

In general there is no restriction, in UK law, on a British national being a citizen of another country as well. So, if you get another nationality, you will not lose your British nationality. Similarly, you will not need to give up any other nationality when you become British. (Different rules apply in the cases of British protected persons and certain British subjects. A person who is a British subject otherwise than by connection with the Republic of Ireland will lose that status on acquiring any other nationality or citizenship. Similarly, a British protected person will no longer be a British protected person on acquiring any other nationality or citizenship.)

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/applying/...ity/advice/bn18

[meezer 0]

You need to apply for a "Beibehaltungsgenehmigung" via your German Consulate to the "Bundesverwaltungsamt" in Cologne. Germany will issue this document, if you can proof that you have (reasonable) disadvantages as a permanent resident as opposed to being a US Citizen. It depends strongly on your personal situation what reasons will be accepted. Takes about 4-6 month processing time.

I strongly recommend to have a look at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zweipaesse/ , there are many examples of accepted (and rejected) reasons.

[andi598d 0]

Ah, grazie, I wasn't aware of that group.